The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (no 92 of 1996) was implemented during
1997. This study attempted to investigate professional nurses’ attitudes towards
rendering termination of pregnancy (TOP) services at a tertiary hospital in the North
West Province of South Africa. A quantitative descriptive research design was used
to study professional nurses’ attitudes towards providing TOP services. The research
results, obtained from questionnaires completed by professional nurses, indicated
that most professional nurses’ attitudes included that women should be at least 16
years of age to access these services; women should not be able to access repeated
TOPs; nurses would prefer to administer pills rather than to use vacuum aspirations;
nurses should work in TOP services by choice only. TOP centers should have better
equipment, more resources and more staff members. Nurses working in TOP services
would appreciate receiving more support from their families, friends, managers and
communities.
Some professional nurses experienced guilt, depression, anxiety and religious conflicts
as a result of providing TOP services. Despite the legalisation of TOPs, these services
remained stigmatised. Professional nurses did not want to work in these services and
also did not want to be associated with them.

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en

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AOSIS OpenJournals

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abortions

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termination of pregnancy services

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Choice on Termination of Pregancy Act

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stigmatisation of termination of pregnancy services

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attitudes of nurses towards terminations of pregnancies

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support for professional nurses

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Professional nurses' attitudes towards providing termination of pregnancy services in a tertiary hospital in the North West Province of South Africa

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (no 92 of 1996) was implemented during 1997. This study attempted to investigate professional nurses' attitudes towards rendering these services in the Carletonville area of South ...

The legalising of abortion in many countries has given women the choice or right to decide to terminate pregnancy. The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (Act No 92 of 1996) was promulgated in 1997. This legislation ...